In-situ production of WC-Ni using a laser cladding technique

Abstract

Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) coatings of Tungsten Carbide (WC) and Nickel (Ni) powder were produced using laser cladding process. A crack free and good metallurgically bonded WC-Ni coating of about 5mm thick produced from varying both laser energy density and percent mixture of Ni and WC. In this study, the microstructure of WC-Ni coatings were characterised using optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) with EDS, while mechanical properties of the coating were studied using Vickers hardness tester and abrasion wear resistance tester. It was found that the hardness and wear resistance increase as the percentage of WC increases.